Fauntleroy Boulevard update: Design at 60%, with ‘changes to meet specific business-access needs’

SDOT announced today that the ‘Fauntleroy Boulevard’ project proposed for Fauntleroy Way between 35th and Alaska is at 60 percent design, but still isn’t scheduled for construction until and unless funding is found, so there’s no chance work would start any sooner than fall 2016. Here’s the official update:

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is continuing design work for the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project, an improvement project along Fauntleroy Way SW between SW Alaska Street and 35th Avenue SW.

We recently reached the 60% design stage, and we anticipate completing project design work in spring 2015. The project is not currently funded for construction. In order to advance the project into construction, the Seattle City Council would need to allocate construction funding. If construction funding is secured, the earliest construction would begin is fall 2016.

We have been meeting one-on-one with area business and property owners and members of community organizations since early design work began in the summer of 2014. The 60% design reflects changes to meet specific business access needs raised during the outreach process.

We compared the cross-section above with the one that was circulated when the project was at 30 percent design three months ago – no major differences that we can see. We have a followup question out asking for elaboration on the “changes” SDOT says it made, and will add whatever we find out.

12 Replies to "Fauntleroy Boulevard update: Design at 60%, with 'changes to meet specific business-access needs'"

  • Diane December 19, 2014 (1:02 pm)

    what year did they hold 1st public design open house at Senior Center? I was there, calling for safer pedestrian access; was it 2-3 yrs ago? so by 2016, it will be 5+ yrs to re-do this major road into WS; meanwhile, 100’s of people daily risk their lives (and many with children) running across this very busy street, dodging cars, to get to Trader Joe’s

  • john December 19, 2014 (2:19 pm)

    People should be aware that this design removes the right hand turn lane from Fauntleroy on to (westbound) Oregon, and that the many cars turning right there will have to cross the bike path, endangering everyone. During the “review” that I attended (more like “this is what we’re doing, like it or not”) this concern was met with little more than a shrug.
    .
    Without that right turn lane the backup will be nightmare. I guess that could be called “calming” but I can’t possibly see that as a good thing in this instance. That turn lane is critical for cars reaching the businesses in The Junction, especially with the bus lane on Alaska.

  • Ken December 19, 2014 (5:50 pm)

    Thank(your deity here)there is no funding yet. The Oregon to SW Avalon turn lane is going away too. This coupled with the already buggered SW Avalon to 35th turn lane removal will bring that several times a day backup out into the right lane of east bound Fauntleroy instead of just into the current right turn lane. Won’t that be fun. I can count the number of bicyclist I have seen there without taking my shoes off. But millions of dollars for bike lanes seems reasonable when it is only the locals who drive the vanishing arterial (that avoids the core business district) that will be inconvenienced. The goal of SDOT and KC Metro has always been to get the downtown worker to the burbs and Vashon Island at all cost and screw any traveler who has a different destination in mind. Why are SDOT and the various planners so intent on removing any easy access to 35th from other parts of WS? Alaska is already inaccessible most of the day and the joke at Morgan and California (The Joke is they don’t actually cross or meet)is really old and yet still annoying in its demented design. Can we require IQ test for SDOT? Is there a secret military design spec that hopes to restrict all travel across the ridges From west to east to slow down the North Korean invaders? If you know don’t answer. Remember only whistle-blowers go to jail.

  • dsa December 19, 2014 (7:42 pm)

    SDOT and other planners do it all the time in this city. They get fixated on a plan and care less on existing traffic demands such as those two east west vital movements that will be lost at Oregon/Fauntleroy. They cut Alaska off as an alternative with their Rapid Ride fixation. Now this beautification or whatever their excuse is, is really going to screw up traffic, all traffic.

  • dsa December 19, 2014 (9:28 pm)

    Sheet 15 of 23 shows the right off Oregon to Fauntleroy intact. The right off Fauntleroy to Oregon is gone as are the cars.
    .
    It is unfortunate that superior Transportation is not one of SDOT’s values as shown on their page 3, theirs are safety, thriving economy, basics, healthy communities, and great service.

  • Ivan December 20, 2014 (9:36 am)

    @Ken: I doubt you will find any Vashon Islander who drives through WS who thinks SDOT (Slow Down our Traffic) has done them any favors.

  • Julie December 20, 2014 (10:44 am)

    Actually, I think this looks really good, and I hope it is funded and implemented soon. Ken, I think the reason you see so few cyclists is that it’s really dangerous for them right now. This will bring many more. You may need to change your route habits; it won’t kill you. But this design looks much safer to me.

  • RayK December 20, 2014 (10:56 am)

    Yes, turn lanes from Fauntleroy to both Oregon and Avalon are falling victims to form as functions. The difference is that the turn lane Oregon offers a smooth turn from Fauntleroy to Oregon while the turn lane from Fauntleroy to Avalon offers a storage buffer for vehicles waiting to pass through 35th Street. I’ve seen that buffer lane stacked with cars twice in the 5 trips I’ve taken through there during the past three months.
    The SDOT team isn’t acting like they care about community feedback and want to have a purdy picture for the mayor.
    If you see functional problems from these design illustrations let the project team know what they are; talk it up in your community. The team listens to their paid consultants, not citizens who must live with the impact for the next fifty years.
    The design principle of “Form Follows Function” has been followed by leading successful public space designers for centuries (http://bit.ly/1z6PFR6). Let’s not settle for less in our community.

  • jwright December 20, 2014 (8:23 pm)

    Looks beautiful and much safer. Love it!

  • KM December 21, 2014 (10:00 am)

    I do see a good number of cyclists there already, and it would be great to have more. It seems like such a dangerous, yet natural, path for them to take. I can’t wait to see that improved.

    The turn lane issue is definitely questionable. This is such a heavily used area. California has slowed down, but I still find it a more enjoyable drive than trying to access 35th from Fauntleory or Alaska (which has drastically slowed down as well with the bus only lanes). If we’re going to continue to slow down car traffic, reliable lightrail would be a dream on 35th and definitely get me out of my car!

  • B December 21, 2014 (12:40 pm)

    I’m thankful that shrubbery is included in the design, Fauntleroy from the bridge to the produce stand is a sea of asphalt. Very little green space, and the businesses look dingy. Hopefully this will brighten up this area.

  • WS December 30, 2014 (10:59 am)

    Those two curb lanes will be re-purposed for bus-only, if the current policy is any indicator.

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